Sanderson Farms Championship tees off under threatening skies

Crews prepared to push water off greens

The first round of the Sanderson Farms Championship teed off at 7 a.m. at Annandale Golf Club. 16 WAPT meteorologist Ethan Huston said he expects scattered showers and thunderstorms, especially during the mid-afternoon and evening, roughly between 2-8 p.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall and gusty winds up to 40 mph, Huston said.

Huston said he doesn't expect it to rain all day. The storms will likely build up during the summertime heat and dissipate within about an hour, he said. Otherwise, the forecast for the tournament is humid and at times unpleasantly muggy.

There is a plan in place in case it rains. Crews are prepared to push water off the greens if needed.

"In the event something happens that we are not able to control, where we are rained out, we are able to condense and start early in the morning and go late at night. You can finish one round in the morning and start it 30 minutes later. The goal is always to have a finish on Sunday," said tournament director Kathryn Satcher.

In 2009, the event was finally canceled after the Madison area suffered about 20 inches of rain in less than a week. Since then the course has gone through improvements, organizers said.

"You can never put enough drainage in to drain for the most enormous amount of rainfall, but normal conditions, normal amounts of rainfall, we are just fine," said golf course superintendent Al Osteen.